2014 NCAA Tournament: Gaudreau’s Hat Trick Helps Boston College Hockey Over Denver, 6-2
By Joe Micik
Douglas Jones-USA TODAY Sports
#2 Boston College hockey is one win away from the Frozen Four after defeating the Denver Pioneers on Saturday, 6-2.
It was the first time that Boston College and Denver had met in the NCAA Tournament since 1973, with this meeting being all Eagles. Boston College, who lost in the first round last year, have won their first tournament game since the 2012 national championship against Ferris State and will await the winner of tonight’s UMass-Lowell/Minnesota State game.
| BC | Johnny Gaudreau | 0:25 1st | Hayes, Savage | DU 0 | BC 1 |
| BC | Kevin Hayes | 5:30 1st | Arnold, Gaudreau | DU 0 | BC 2 |
| BC | Johnny Gaudreau | 9:34 1st | Matheson | DU 0 | BC 3 |
| BC | Kevin Hayes | 5:29 2nd | Arnold, Gaudreau | DU 0 | BC 4 |
| BC | Johnny Gaudreau (HT) | 8:13 2nd | Matheson, Demko | DU 0 | BC 5 |
| BC | Bill Arnold | 15:35 2nd | Hayes, Gaudreau | DU 0 | BC 6 |
| DU | Trevor Moore | 19:08 2nd | Loney | DU 1 | BC 6 |
| DU | Evan Janssen | 19:47 3rd | Romig, Laleggia | DU 2 | BC 6 |
The Eagles got the scoring started right away, setting the tempo with a Johnny Gaudreau goal 25 seconds into the game. That would be the first of his three for the contest; the likely Hobey Baker winner notched his first collegiate hat trick in the second period.
Gaudreau totaled six points for the game, which is tied for the second-highest total in a single game in NCAA Tournament history.
His linemate, Kevin Hayes, came close to a hat trick as well, but settled for two goals. The Gaudreau-Hayes-Arnold line scored all six of Boston College’s goals on Saturday.
Denver scored its first goal as some pushing and shoving took place to Thatcher Demko’s left; the goalie took his eye off the puck and Trevor Moore snuck in for the tally. The second came with mere seconds remaining in the game, long after folks stopped watching
Otherwise, the Pioneers looked completely outmatched from start to finish, and the Eagles looked every bit like a title contender. The games will only get harder from here, and a potential all-Hockey East showdown with Lowell on Sunday will be a difficult task.